Portable sulphur plant for use in a region of subsidence



Aug. 12, 195.8 I a/ 5 2,847,201

PORTABLE SULPHUR PLANT FOR USE IN A REGION OF SUBSIDENCE Filed Nov. 9.1954 4 Sheets-She et 1 L/ME 5 23 24 M/XER )4 w AIR COMP- WA 75R 50mmSTORAGE 7 5 /7 mm $7; Wm

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INVENTOR.

BY w gyflz 4 7- TOR/V5 y Aug. 12, 1958 G. B. EBARB, SR

PORTABLE SULPHUR PLANT FOR USE IN A REGION OF SUBSIDENCE Filed NOV. 9.1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 67/69/2 .5. barb,J/:

INVENTOR.

A TTORNEV PORTABLE SULPHUR PLANT FOR USE IN A REGION OF SUBSIDENCE FiledNov. 9, 1954 Aug. 12, 1958 G. B. EBARB, SR

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IN V EN TOR.

ATTOR/Vf 2,847,201 PORTABLE SULPHUR PLANT FOR USE IN A REGION OFSUBSIDENCE Filed NOV. 9, 1954 Aug. 12, 1958 s. B. EBARB, SR

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

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BY waw ALZ'OH/VE Y United States Patent PORTABLE SULPHUR PLANT FOR USEIN A REGION OF SUBSIDEN CE Gilbert B. Ebarb, Sr., Rosenberg, Tex.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to Carroll R. Graham, Houston, Tex.

Application November 9, 1954, Serial No. 467,719

7 Claims. (Cl. 262-3) This invention relates to a portable sulphur plantand method of its operation whereby the attendant advantage of proximityof plant to sulphur well may be obtained. Additionally it relates tosuch a method and plant which operates at higher thermal efficiencythrough employing treated Water in the production of the well to therebyobtain a purer grade of sulphur, and it also relates to a method andplant operable at higher thermal efiiciency, through applying gas heatdirectly to water containing tubes or through tubes surrounded by waterwhereby pressurized water atexcessively high temperature may be employedas mine water to flow the sulphur. Furthermore the invention includes amore efiicient method of flowing a sulphur Wellby localizing theproducing sulphur to the area surrounding the producing area of the wellbore and by drawing oil cooling Water from such area, with attendantincreased thermal and operative efiiciency. The invention also relatesto a method of minimizing or counteracting the etfects of subsidenceresulting from the settling of the earth into the space from which thesulphur has been drawn.

Heretofore, in the production of sulphur Wells, plants of permanentcharacter have been established with the object of extending the hotwater lines to the well as wells farther and farther from the plant arebrought into production. This method of operation results in attendantheat losses along the line, requires excessive expensive insulation, andwhen the distance from plant to well has become sufiiciently remote as asulphur dome is drilled farther and farther from the plant, it is oftennecessary to install booster stations or plants where the water isre-heated. The costs of such booster stations or plants often rival thecosts of constructing the initial plant, while requiring additionalpersonnel and fuel consumption in operation. 1

Also, heretofore, it has been sulphur plant practice to treat only thewater converted into steam and to extend such treatment only in degreesufiicient to protect the boilers in operation, while employing thesteam of the boilers to bubble through and heat the pressurized water toa sutficient temperature for sulphur well flowing. Thus the raw waterheretofore employed as mine water has picked up as condensate only asmall percentage of the steam into which the treated boiler feed waterhas been converted, and has consequently carried with it the impuritiesof the raw water to contaminate the sulphur in the well. The thermalefficiency of a plant of this type has been much less than the thermalefficiency of a plant which applies to treated water the excessivetemperatures obtainable by gas consumption where such gas burns as itpasses through tubes through the pressurized treated Water, or elseburns as it surrounds tubes through which the pressurized treated waterpasses.

Additionally, sulphur walls have been mined or flowed by injecting waterinto the well to melt the sulphur in the mine or sulphur producingformation, but with no effort being made to localize or isolate theproducing sulphur or molten lode to the immediate area of the ICE wellbore. Thus the hot water which is employed may flow from the .area ofthe well bore and into remote crevices and faults in the formation tocool and thereby waste the heat therein in ineffectiveness. However,when a series of holes are drilled through the cap rock at spaced apartdistances surrounding the well bore and a viscuous liquid, asa drillingmud, is pumped'or otherwise forced down these bores at a time after thesulphur surrounding the well or production bore has been placed in amolten state by the introduction of hotwater, the heavier mud will flowat least in part below and around the sulphur to form a, bowl or aninverted dome-shaped sheath within which the sulphur of production iscon fined or localized to the area of the producing bore.

In this manner most of the hot waterejected down the well bore actseffectively to melt the sulphurjand very little heat content is losttherefrom in giving up heat at points too remote from the producing wellbore to effect the upward flow of sulphur therein. As an additionalfeature of thermal efiiciency a cold water draw off bore may be made ata distance from the Well bore and near, but Within the periphery of thelocalized area and that portion of the water in the localized area spaceremote from the well bore may be drawn off as it cools and before it cancool to any appreciable degree.

It is consequently a main object of this invention to provide a portablesulphur plant and method of use by installing the plant proximate eachproducing sulphur bore to thereby avoid the heat losses encounteredwhere long lines extendfrom plant to well. I

It is also a primary object of this invention to provide a sulphur plantand method of operation, wherein treated water is employed as the minewater, thereby obtaining a purer produced sulphur.

It is another important object of this invention to provide a light,moderately priced sulphur plant and inexpensive method of use whereintreated water under pressure is heated by gas directlyapplied throughfire tubes surrounded by the treated water, or to tubes through whichthe treated water flows, thereby eliminating the use of boiler steam toheat the mine water, so that $.team boilers are needed only to operatethe plant equipment and for auxiliary purposes; an appreciablereductiony in operation costs being achieved thereby.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a plant andmethod 'of use whereby the heating of the mine water may be carried outby automatically operable means to a great degree, thereby reducingpersonnel requirements.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a sulphur plantand method of use wherein treated water is heated in gas fired heatersin which pressures can be maintained in degree to obviate internaltreatment of the Water in the heater, the heated water thenbeingdeliverable from the heaters at high velocities by. virtue of thepressures obtainable in the heaters.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a sulphur plantand method of use wherein various items of installation may beindividually skid mounted. for portability so that the plant maybe'positively located proximate each new producing bore, flexibleconnections being provided in the connection means between the variousitems of equipment to thereby obviate breakage due to any subsidence ofthe earth beneath the plant location as the sulphur is removed.

It is also another object of this invention to provide a method ofmining sulphur with the pure high temperature water obtained from asulphur plant and method of use of this class in which the moltensulphur is localized to the area of the producing bore while thteminewater is drawn off from the outer part of the producing area beforeit can cool and by contact reduce the temperature of the incoming minewater.

Other and further objects will be apparent when the specificationhereinbelow is considered in connection with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a flow sheet of a portable sulphur plant for carrying out theteaching of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation through a sulphur mine in which theteaching of this invention is carried out;

,Fig. 3A a detailed flow sheet and piping diagram of part of the sulphurplant shown generally in Fig. 1;

r Fig. 3B is a detailed flow sheet and piping diagram of the other partof the sulphur plant shown generally in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a water softener tank shown generallyin Figs. 1 and 3A; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a water heater shown generally inFigs. 1 and 3B.

Fig. 6 is a plan view illustrating how flexibility may be obtained inpiping connections.

Fig. 7 is an elevation, partially diagrammatic, of part of the relaystation, and of the sulphur pit.

' Reference may now be made to the drawings in which correspondingreference numerals are applied to corresponding elements in the variousviews.

In Fig. 1 the broad concept of a sulphur plant constructed after theteaching of this invention is shown. Beginning with a reservoir or waterwell as a source of raw water, a pump 11, which may be driven by agasoline engine, electric motor, or by steam, delivers such raw water tostorage, as to a storage tank 12. From the storage tank 12 the greaterpart of the water, as 95%, is delivered to a softener, as a watersoftening tank 14, while the remainder is delivered to a chemical mixer15, where a chemical, as lime, is provided to be mixed with the water. Apump 16, which may be driven electrically, by a gasoline engine, or bysteam, delivers the mixtuure of chemical and water to the softener 14wherein, under steam pressure as will be hereinafter described, theadded chemical and water are mixed with the raw water delivered to thesoftener from the storage tank 12, and the impurities are at least inpart precipitated and the water otherwise treated and softened understeam contact, as will be described hereinbelow.

The water from the softener 14 is delivered to a filter 17 whereinsuspended particles and other matter are filtered therefrom and then apart of the water is delivered by a boiler feed water pump 18 to aboiler 19 while the greater part of the water is delivered to a gasheater 20 by a pump 21, the pumps 18 and 21 being steam operated. Aby-pass line 22' is provided so that in case of failure of either thepump 18 or the pump 21, the other pump may supply the water to both theboiler 19 and heater 20. p

The heater 20 is gas fired and may be either of the water tube or firetube type, it only being necessary that the heat imparted by gascombustion may be applied directly through the metal of the separatingtubes to the water. In such a boiler the water remains in a closedsystem under pump pressure and thus may enter at say 180 p. s. i. andleave at say 160 p. s. i. Due to the thermal capacity gas thus burned insuch a heater, the water may be raised to comparatively hightempertaures; on an occasion temperatures in excess of 340 Fahrenheithaving been obtained while the lower ranges obtainable include atemperature of 317 Fahrenheit. From the heater the water, now ready foremployment as mine water, is delivered to the control or relay station21 where its employment in the sulphur well, not shown, is controlled.

The live steam generated in the boiler 19 is delivered through a motoror reduction valve 22 to the softener 14 for use therein as low pressuresteam, the reduction being from pressures of say 138 p. s. i. topressures of 5 p. s. i. The live steam is also employed to run agenerator 23 which generates the electricity required at location. Alsosteam at high pressure is conveyed to actuate a steam turbine orcompressor rotor 144 which actuates an air compressor 24, and to actuatepumps of the plant, as the pumps 18 and 21. Additionally live steam,controlled at relay station 13, is employed in lines in a manner to keepthe flowed sulphur from thhe well in molten condition. An exhaust steamline indicated in Fig. 1 as the line 25 extending from the pump 21returns from the various steam operated items of equipment foremployment in the softener 14 together with the reduced pressure steampassing through the motor or reduction valve 22. The use of the exhauststeam is designated by the fragmentary exhaust steam line 25 shownentering the softener 14.

The compressed air generated by the air compressor 24 passes through areduction valve 26 Where it is reduced from pressures of approximately400 p. s. i. to pressures of approximately 30 p. s. i. and is thenstored in a surge bottle or tank 27 prior to delivery to the relaystation 21 where its use in the sulphur well is controlled.

In Fig. 2 there is shown a central well casing 28 which designates thecasing for a producing sulphur well bore, as an 8" casing. The boredescends through the calcite rock cap generally indicating the presenceof sulphur therebelow, and is shown penetrating a sulphur bearingcalcite formation and extends into an anhydrite formation. The lowerpart of the casing 28 has perforations 29 therein extending from thebottom of the casing well up into the sulphur bearing calcite formation.Centrally within the casing 28 there extends a smaller diameter pipe 30,as a 3" pipe, which terminates at a spaced distance above the bottom ofthe casing 28 and at a spaced distance below the upper limit of theperforate part of the casing. Centrally within the pipe 30 there islocated a smaller diameter pipe 31, as say a 1" pipe terminating at somesubstantial distance, as say 30 feet, above die lower end of the pipe30.

At the top of the Well the casing 28 is capped by a fitting 32 and thepipe 30 passes upward through the top of the fitting 32 and branches ata fitting 33 into a horizontal line 34 having a valve 35 thereinadjacent thereto. Outwardly of the valve 35 a steam line 36 is sealablypassed into the line 34 and extends centrally therein. The pipe 31 issealably passed through the top of the fitting 33 and extends outwardlytherefrom. Within the fitting 32 the pipe 30 branches and is sealablyextended outwardly therethrough in a horizontal line 37 and turned tojoin the line 34 having the central line 36 therein, there being a valve38 in the line 37 adjacent its junction with the line 34. The fitting 32has connected thereto the line 39 opposite the line 37 and this line 39has a valve 40 therein adjacent the fitting 32.

At usually substantially equally radially spaced distances from theproducing bore, and at substantially equal angular distances apart, aplurality of bores 41 are drilled to pierce the calcite cap rock Whichalmost universally is encountered above a sulphur producing area. Also,a bore 42 is drilled at a spaced distance from the producing bore andpreferably slightly within the periphery of the bores 41.

In producing the well at first pressurized heated mine water is directeddown the line 39, through the open valve 40, into the fitting 32, anddown the casing 28. Also the heated mine water is directed down the line34 through the open valve 38, the valve 35 being closed, and down theline 37 into the pipe 30, through which it flows to join the waterflowing down the casing 28 and out through the perforations 29 into thesulphur bearing calcite.

As the pressurized mine water at temperatures in ex.- cess of 300 F.comes in contact with the sulphur in the calcite, it melts the sulphurso that it begins to form a molten sulphur pool in the lower part of thecalcite formation. To avoid the molten sulphur running off through linesof cleavage and faults in the calcite formation, a thick, heavy, viscousfluid as the fluid used in drilling oil wells and termed drilling mud ispumped under pressure down the cased bores 41 which extend into thecalcite formation below the cap rock. The drilling mud, flows out of thecased bores 41 and at least in part, it flows into space in the uppercalcite including space which the sulphur has vacated and arriving atthe pool of molten sulphur the heavy viscous mud runs down under thepool of sulphur and forms an inverted domeshaped encasement or a bowl tofill and plug the lines of cleavage, crevices, or faults through whichthe sulphur might otherwise flow away from the pool. Thus the sulphur islocalized to a bowl shaped area surrounding the casing 28 as its centralor focal point.

The mine water, lighter than sulphur, tends to stand on top of, or inthe upper part of the sulphur. The water being supplied to the sulphuris at the high temperatures stated above at the point it leaves the pipeperforations 29 but loses temperature as its heat is expended in meltingthe sulphur and becomes cooler in the areas of the mud bowl more remotefrom the producing bore. In order that this cooler water at theperiphery of the bowl may not act to cool the hot water arriving downthe producing bore, a pump 200 is connected at the top of the pipe 42 toexert suction thereon and draws the cool water around this pipe and fromthe periphery of the mud bowl up the pipe 42 to be expelled at thesurface or employed at the surface for other uses when so adapted. Theprocess of drawing off this 'cool water is termed bleeding the well, andthe pipe or line 42 is termed the bleed line.

After the hot water has been introduced into the producing. bore forsome time and the sulphur is in molten state and ready to flow, thevalve 38 is closed and the valve 35 is opened. Also compressed air isintroduced into the bore through the pipe 31 to place under pressure theliquid sulphur in the pool below. The molten sulphur may now flow up thepipe 30 around the compressed air pipe 31 and pass onto a subsesquentstage of treatment through the line 34 ,as steam flows in the line 36Within the line 34 to supply heat to the sulphur and maintain it inmolten state. The compressed air blows an open central core spacethrough the upwardly passing sulphur in pipe 30 as the air passesdownwardly to pressurize the molten sulphur in the pool below. Thisreaction is obvious if consideration is given to the fact that a holeblown by a gas into a liquid will cause an upward splashing of theliquidaround the gas jet stream. Carried farther, especially when the spacesin the sulphur bearing calcite become pressurized, additionalpressurizing gas must cause the sulphur to take the only egress possiblewhen it cannot penetrate the cap rock, and when the pump 200 is shutdown, and this egress is up the pipe 30 and around the compressed airpipe 31.

The plant shown in Figs. 3A and 3B follows in general the sequence ofthe flow diagram shown in Fig. 1 but the arrangement is shown in moredetail in order that a fuller understanding may be had of thearrangement of the apparatus carrying out various stages of the processand the relation of such apparatus to the piping and auxiliary equipmentrequired for the operation thereof.

The water from the reservoir is such water as may be obtained from anyoutdoor tank, artificial lake, or dammed stream and consequently suchwater will have substantial impurities therein and the degree andcharacter of such impurities .will vary seasonally, especially duringrainy seasons. It is necessary to use this type of water as it would beotherwise prohibitive to pipe treated water from established watersystems to the varying locations in remote areas at which sulphur mayoccur.

Thus because of outdoor service and because of the heavy usage to whichthe pumps which transfer the raw water must be subjected, alternatelyemployable pumps 11 and 11 are shown, one of which may be driven by anelectric motor and the other by a gasoline engine, the reservoir'beingomitted from the drawings. The raw water thus picked up by the pumps istransferred through a main 51 from the location of the reservoir to astorage tank 12 located as an element of a sulphur plant very proximatethe location of a producing sulphur well. A service line 52 branchesfrom the main 51 to supply service water for plant usage Where purifiedwater may not be needed.

morn. the storage tank 12 the raw water is supplied to a pair ofsoftener tanks 14, 14 via the respective lines or header 53 and 53 and asmall percentage, as 5%, of the water, is also supplied via the line 54or header to a chemical mixer 15.

Ordinarily the chemical employed in such a mixer is lime or calciumhydroxide but also other related products may be employed to precipitatethe impurities in the water and in rainy seasons it has been found thatcopperas must be added to precipitate matter brought in by the rains.

A chemical proportioner 55 is mounted on the mixer for each softener.Lines 56 and 56 lead from the line 53 on opposite sides of an orificeplate 57 and record at the proportioner the rate of raw water flow inthe line 53 which delivers the-raw water to the softener. The operatorobserves this recorded rate of flow and adjusts a conventional meanswithin the proportioner, which means is not shown because of scaledifficulties, and this means adjusts the proportioner to delivertherefrom an amount of mixed chemical and water at a rate sufficient toprecipitate and soften the raw water at the rate of volumetric deliverythereof. An electric motor 58, having pumps 59, 59' at the ends thereof,drives the pump 59 adjacent the lime mixer 15 to draw a mixture ofchemical and water from the mixer and delivers it to the proportioner55. That part of the mixture of water and chemical which is not passedoverflows and returns to the mixer 15, while the part that is passedthrough is picked up by the pump 59' on the outer end of the motor 58and delivered through a line or header 60 into the top of the softener14. An air bleed line 61 is provided to bleed air from the suction line201 to the pump 59. Similar apparatus proportions mixed chemical andwater delivered through a line 60' into the top of the softener 14'.

The impurities of the raw water are substantially precipitated in thesofteners 14, 14' and a combination of water and sludge of precipitationis drawn off from the bottom of each softener through a line 62 anddelivered into the chemical proportioner 55 to serve as an addedingredient in the lines 60 and 60 to avoid the deposit of chemicalswithin these lines, as it has been found that the presence of sludgekeeps in solution matter which would otherwise encrust the pipes.

The precipitation and softening of the raw water in the softeners 14 and14' i conducted under the pressure of reduced steam and exhaust steam atabove 5 lbs. pressure. The source and path of access of this lowpressure steam will be described hereinbelcw. Automatic adjustment isprovided to maintain the steam-water level in the softeners, aconventional float mechanism, not shown in detail, but generallydesignated by the numeral 63 being mounted on the exterior of eachsoftener. The rise and fall of the float is imparted to a linkage 64which controls a regulator valve 65 in the line 53 and thus regulatesthe amount of water delivered through the line 53 into a cap 66 at thetop of each softener, to maintain a proper balance in such softenersbetween the steam and the water therein. A temperature recorder 67registers. the temperature of the water within a softener atapproximately the steam-water level. The ordinary softener at slightoverload can process approximately 14,000 gallons of water per hour sothat three softeners of the type shown could process approximately42,000 gallons of raw water per hour. It has been found that suchsofteners when supplied with low pressure steam at approximately p. s.i. pressure will raise the temperature of the water to about 220Fahrenheit at its point of exit.

As shown in detail in Fig. 4, each softener 14 includes a cylindricalhull or housing 63 having a conical lower end 69 including a bottomblow-out vent 70 therein. Sample lines 71 extend from the lower end ofthe softener and sludge samples may be taken from these lines at variouslevels to obtain knowledge of the sludge constituency. Above the lowerend of the tank an upstanding conical baifle 72 is provided therewithinand supported by a series of peripherally spaced connectors 73 whichspace the baffle from the inner wall of the housing and thus the baffle72 serves as a deflecting guide member whereby the precipitating sludgemay slide downwardly and through the annular space between bafiie andhousingto deposit in the lower portion of the housing.

A central pipe 74 upstands from the top of the baffle 72 and istransversely supported by a pipe 75 which extends through the shell ofthe housing 68 for connection to the outlet line to be hereinafterdescribed through which the treated water from the softener 14 flows outto the filters 17. At the top of the upstanding pipe or riser 74, a cupor basin 76 is installed and transversely I supported by a pipe or line77 which extends outwardly through the hull 68. In order to back washthe filter 17 by means of a system to be hereinafter described, a pipe78 is provided, having an inner inlet or upstanding elbow 79 to extendaxially of the softener to an elevation approximate the base of thebaffle 72. Suction is taken from the outer end of the pipe 73 and thetreated water is passed through the filter 17 and returned by a backwash return line connected to the pipe 77. Thus the direction of backwash circulation passes through the pipe 77, the basin 76, down theriser 74, and from within the bafiie 72 to the inner inlet 79 of thepipe 78.

The float mechanism 63 on the exterior of the shell 68 includes ahousing 80 rigidly connected to the shell 68 and having a steam inlet 31in the top thereof and a water conduit 82 connected into the bottomthereof, such conduit extending from the riser 74 through the shell 68.A float 83 within the housing 80 is connected to a pivoted linkage 64,hereinabove generally described, which transmits the rise and fall ofthe float 83 in results respectively operating to open and close theflow regulator valve 65 which controls the rate of raw water flow to thesoftener.

A baffled inlet 84 is provided at the top of the shell 68 through whichreduced steam and exhaust steam from lines to be hereinafter describedmay enter the top of the softener to provide the steam which maintainsthe treated water in the softener under steam pressure. A bonnet 85 isinstalled on top of the softener and has connected thereinto the line 53through which raw Water is supplied to the filter; also, the line 60 isconnected into the top of the softener through which flows the mixtureof lime and water from the lime mixer 15. The top of the bonnet 85 has aflange 86 thereon on which is mounted a conventional vent valveindicated as a valve 87 in Fig. 3A.

As has been generally stated hereinabove the condition known assubsidence exists at sulphur well locations, subsidence being defined asthe subsiding of the earth into the cavities formed by the flowing outof molten sulphur from the space which the sulphur had previouslyoccupied in its hardened solid state. Thus a different condition existsin the mining of sulphur than in the mining of liquid minerals as oil,since the oil and similar liquids occur in the earth in preexistingcavities within walls of hardened formation which confine the oil spaceand thereby support the overhead formation from caving in or subsidingwhen the liquid oil is withdrawn, whereas in sulphur mining, sulphur inits normal state constitutes a hard substance of supporting strengthwhich augments the material calcite in supporting the earth formationthereabove. Therefore it can be seen that shown, connect the base to thefooting 88.

when the sulphur is melted and changed from its normal hardened state,part of the original hard supporting structure is withdrawn from theformation mass thereabove so that in many cases the earth will sink orsubside into the crevices from which the sulphur has flown under heatand the earth up to the top of the ground will subside.

To provide against such subsidence in a sulphur plant 1 and to providefor the portability of each individual item of equipment employed, it isadvantageous to provide a separate concrete base for each plant elementand often it is advisable even to go further and provide separatefootings for each individual leg of an element. Thus, as shown in Fig.4, a footing 88 is provided for each leg 89 which supports the softener14 and a base 90 is provided for each leg 89 of the softener, and lagbolts, not In case of uneven subsidence such lag bolts may be withdrawnfrom any leg which may sink lower than the other supporting legs andproper shimming may be provided under such leg to raise it to the levelof the others. To move the softener to another location it is obviousthat it is only necessary to remove the lag bolts of the bases 90 andthen, when the pipe lines to the softener are disconnected, the softeneris ready to be lifted for transportation to a new site.

From each softener 14 a treated water outlet line or header 91 connectsto the pipe 75 which receives the softened water in purified state, suchwater rising above the sludge to the top of the bafile 72. Such line 91delivers the water to the filters 17 in which the water is furtherpurified by the removal of suspended particles therefrom through depositby impingement on the filter material within the filters. The filteremployed may be provided from a range of commercially known apparatusand details of individual filters are not shown for this reason. Aninlet line 92 from the general delivery or header line 91 delivers thetreated water to each filter and the water passes through the filtermedium therein generally denoted in Fig. 3B by the dotted line 93 andexists through a line 94 to a header 95, and flows therefrom through aline or header 96 to be picked up for further delivery as will behereinbelow described.

Each filter 17 is connected to permit the bypassing of the filteringflow therethrough in order to allow the filters to be back washed orcleaned individually, one filter being cut out of the system at a timewhile the others continue in operation to handle the treated waterdelivered thereto. To this end a back wash line 97 is connected to theoutlet of the pipe 78 from each filter and a suction pump 98 draws onthe lines 97 and delivers back wash down the line 99 for distributionthrough a line 100 into each indivdual filter to be back washed. Theline 97 has a suitable controlled orifice and gauge therefor provided at111 to control the rate of How to the filters.

The valves in the lines 92 and 94 are closed to back wash an individualfilter and a valve in the back wash inlet 100 and a valve in back washoutlet 101 from the filter are opened. Thus the back wash coursesthrough the line 100, through the filter material 93, and out the outlet101 to a back wash return line 102 which delivers the back wash throughthe top of each softener to course therein for recirculation throughelbow 79 and the pipe 78 to the back wash suction line 97.

The pressure drop across the filters may be measured by a suitablepressure gauge assembly 103 between the filter inlet header 91 and thefilter return header 95. Also all of the flow from the header 91 may bedirected to bypass the filters and flow through a line 104 for deliveryby the line 96 for further circulation.

From the return header 95 a line or header 105 delivers water fordistribution as boiler feed water to the pumps 18 which dischargethrough lines 106 into the boilers 19. Within the boilers, which may beeither fire 'lines 'or conduit 'means114 to such heaters.

vi'a lines 109 to the softeners for employment in the softening processtherein. Additionaly steam employed in removing deposited material orboiler crud from theboil'er'sis delivered via lines 110 to the softeners14.

The-treated water is delivered to the heaters 20 by means of pumps 21which discharge through or header One of these pumps may be driven by agasoline engine 112 and the other by a steam turbine 113 and thus astand-by prime mover source is availablein case of breakdown of onesource. In case of a break down of the boiler pumps 18, boiler feedwatermay be supplied to the boilers by either or both of the pumps 21via bypass lines 115. Conversely, in case of break down of either of thepumps 21, either or both of the pumps 18 may be employed to delivertreated water from the line 105 via the conduit means 115 to thedischarge conduit means 114 to the heaters 20.

As shown in Fig. each heater 20 includes a shell 116 having a fire box117 in the lower end thereof to receive gas through a gas inlet 118which is provided at 119 with a suitable gas flow adjustment, also anair intake 120 is provided for the gas inlet 118. The type of heateremployed is of the water tube class and generally water enters atapproximately 220 F. into the intake 121 to which isconnected the pumpdischarge line 114 shown in Fig. 3B. The water courses downward throughwater tubes 122, leaving the heater at a temperature of approximately320 F. from the lowermost tube 123 as shown in Fig. 5, where connectionis made tothe heater discharge line or header 124. As shown in Fig. 3B,this water is delivered to the mine water line or header 125 having theorifice plate 126 therein by means of which the rate of mine water flowis measured. From mine water line 125 the line 39 extends to deliver theheated water to the sulphur well bore casing 28, as has been hereinabovedescribed in detail in connection with the description of Fig. 2relating to the mining operation. A suitable conventional manometerassembly 127 is provided in the line 39 for measurement.

An adequate stack 128 is provided as shown in Fig. 5 having a damper notshown therein and mounted on a shaft 129 which is journalled in thestack and has a pulley 130 on the outer end thereof to which is attacheda line 131 which extends downward to a reel 132 mounted on the side ofthe fire box. By turning the reel handle 133, adjustment of the dampercan be made to control the exhaust of gas of combustion. A suitable baseor skid 134 is provided to support the heater 20 and such base isremovably mounted on a concrete foundation 135 which is adequate tosupport the heater but which is not connected to the foundation of anyother element or item of plant process equipment.

As shown in Fig. 3B the high pressure steam generated in the boilers 19is delivered in the line 108 to the line 136 which is shown extending tooperate generators 23 which are required to supply power to the plant asthe power which operates the lighting circuits required for nightoperation. Such generators 23 may also be gas driven and this isgenerally the practice in areas where most sulphur mines are located, itbeing generally found that oil and gas is produced in the samelocalities where sulphur may be found. Thus gas can be inexpensivelyobtained for the purposes of operating certain apparatus in sulphurplants.

Steam from the main steam line 108 is also carried by a line 138 tooperate the steam turbine 113 which drives one of the pumps 21; alsosuch high pressure steam is carried by a steam line 139 to operate acompressor 140 10 employed to compress the air required in flowing thesulphur-from the sulphur well as has been hereinabove described.

, The line 139 is connected to the steam separator 141 of the compressor140 and from the separator high pressure steam is delivered to thecompressor steam chest 142 to operate the compressor rotor 144. Thecompressor compresses air in two stages by means of a low stagecompressor 145, an intercooler 146 and a high stage compressor 147 fromwhich compressed air, at say 400 p. s. i. is delivered by the line 148to the reduction valve 26 where it is reduced to say 30 p. s. i. anddelivered to a number of series-connected air receivers or bottles 27.From the last bottle of the series the compressed air is drawn via adischarge line 150 for delivery to the line 31 hereinabove described andshown in Fig. 2 in its use in flowing the sulphur well. The storage ofthe compressed air in the'number of large volume bottles results indampening surge in the compressed air delivery line 150 so thatcompressed air flows evenly therein and at substantially uniformpressure.

' Exhaust steam, as that from the steam turbine 113 which actuates thepump 21, returns via a line 194 to the exhaust steam header 25 whichjoins the reduced steam lines 109 which connect to the baffled inlets 84of the softeners 14, 14'. Such exhaust steam header 25 also is joined byan exhaust steam line 195 which transports the exhaust steam. from aline 196 from the compressor steam trap Mind by an exhaust steam line197 from the compressor piston 143 and from a compressor oil separator198. Additionally this line 195 carries 01f exhaust steam from a line199 from the generators 23 when such may be steam operated.

The delivery of treated water to the sulphur well in the early stages ofoperation before the sulphur begins to flow has been describedhereinabove in connection with the description of the lines 34 and 37 atthe top of the well. The treated water is supplied to the line 34from-the line 151 which extends from the mine water line 125 and asshown in Fig. 3B a suitable manometer assembly 152 is provided in theline 151 for flow measurement. High pressure steam is taken from thehigh pressure steam ilne 108 via the line 36 for central installation inthe line 34 to keep molten the sulphur from the mine as has beendescribed hereinabove in the description of Fig. 2.

The line 39 has also been described hereinabove in relation to its usagein supplying hot water to the sulphur well, such line being of a largerdiameter than the line 34 with which it supplies the earlier part of thehot mine water used in first melting the sulphur. The supply from line39 must pass down the casing 28 which has a much larger cross-sectionalarea externally of the pipe 30 than does the pipe 30 itself which is theconduit for the volume of early hot water from the line 34.

The shift from supplying hot water down the lines 151 and 34 to the pipe30 to the clearing of the pipe 30 for the upward passing of sulphurtherein is effected by means of a 4-way valve 153, such valve beingshifted to the position shown in Fig. 7 which completes communicationwith a line 155 through which molten sulphur is delivered to a sulphurpit 156. The line 155 has a steam line 157 installed therein to supplyheat to the sulphur and keep it in molten condition. To effect deliveryof steam from the line 36 to this line 157 a valve 154 within the line36 adjacent the 4-way valve 153 having a stem rotatably and sealablyextending through the line 34 is opened and also a valve 158 within theline 157 adjacent the 4-way valve 153 having a stern rotatably andsealably extending through the line 155, is opened. This effects steamcommunication through the 4-way valve between line 36 within line 34 andline 157 within line 155.

The line 155 has a longitudinally extending slot, not shown, butof alength comparable to the distance across the pit 1 56. To insure thatthe molten sulphur delivered through the pipe 155 is all received withinthe pit, the pit has upper walls sloped as indicated at 159. Amotor 161mounted at ground level adjacent the pit 156 operates pump 162 in thebottom of the pit which discharges the molten sulphur through the line163 to the location of a conventional sulphur stack, notshown.

In order to blow out any sulphur which may harden in the line 163 asteam line 164 is provided which extends from its valve 165 adjacent the4-way valve 153 to a valve 166 which is sealably connected to the line163. Thus with the 4-way valve in the position shown in Fig. 7, thevalves 165 and 166 are opened, as is the valve 154, so that the steamfrom the line 36 may blow through the 4-way valve 153and down the line164, into the line 163. The line 163 is heated by a line 36 whichbranches from the steam line 36 and extends down the line 163 centrallytherewithin to terminate at the pump 162.

The sulphur plant has various additional features which are describedhereinbeow to better set forth the complexity of this operation. Some ofthe special equipment items employed in such a plant include a pump 167which draws anti-corrosion and treatment material from a supply source168 and delivers it via lines 169 to the boilers 19. In order to blowoff or drain the boilers 19 suitable drain lines 170 are provided whichmay be opened for waste flow or which may deliver into a makeup line 171shown in Fig. 3A which is adapted to deliver such drainage water, aswell as water from other sources, into a stand pipe 172 which extendsabove the water storage tank 12.

The raw water delivered to the line 52 for service purposes may be usedfor a number of functions such as the supply for fire extinguishingwater 172. Also service water may be taken through filters 17 when thesofteners 14 are shut down as indicated by the line 173 which connectsthe line 52 with the filter supply header 91.

A general supply pump 174 is provided to deliver water through lines 175for purposes such as cooling the bearings of the plant equipment. Areturn line 176 from such plant equipment connects into a cooling lineor coil 177 which extends within the storage tank 12 to be cooled by thecontact of the cold raw water in the storage tank and stand 202 with thesurface of the pipe or coil 177. In cases when it may not be desired toemploy the storage tank 12 for cooling purposes the line 176 may bebypassed via the line 178 which connects into the suction line 179 ofthe general service pump 174.

A casting or pipe 180 extends from each softener 14, 14' and hasconnected thereinto a branch line 91' from the line 91 also a loop sealline 181 extends from the casting 180 which communicates with the lowpressure steam in the top of the softener and as a consequence ofopening a valve 182 in the loop seal, water may be blown out through theloop seal 181 to lower the water in the softener.

The feature of portability is strongly stressed in sulphur operationemploying the equipment hereinabove described and all items of equipmentand all individually supported apparatus have skids or bases which areremovably mounted on individual concrete foundations or footings. Thusthe sulphur plant may be moved with a minimum of difficulty, as has notheretofore been the case when larger equipment has been employed, suchas larger filters, larger boilers, larger softeners, and larger storagetanks. This portability is obtained through employing a number ofcorresponding items of equipmerit of a smaller size than have beenemployed heretofore in these conventional plants.

Troubles heretofore encountered in subsidence are minimized when smallerequipment is used even though a larger number of individual items ofapparatus may be required. As shown in Fig. 6, provision is also takento avoid breakage of connecting lines between various equipment due tothe consequences of subsidence. In

this regard, the filter supply header 91 is shown in relation to afilter 17. The support for the-header 91 is not shown but it is aseparate support from the filter foundations for'the filter 17. Thus ifthe filter 17 shouldsubside as the molten sulphur in the earththerebelow is withdrawn by melting, while the header 91 does not undergosimilar subsidence, breakage would occur in any rigid pipe connectingheader and filter. However, the line 92, employed to connect header 91and filter 17, consists of an-assembly of elbows, pipe sections, andnipples which, as shown, will permit compensation in three dimensionsfor any relative subsidence between the elements 17 and 91.

In detail an elbow 183is connected -to the outer end of a pipe section184 which'extends outwardly from the filter 17. The elbow 183 extendsupwardly in anangular direction and is connectedby a short nipple, notapparent in Fig. 6, to an elbow 185 which extends downwardly at an angleand has a pipe section 186 connected'thereto. An elbow 187 is connectedto the lower end of the pipe section 186 and its inner leg extends withaxis horizontal. A nipple 188 connects the elbow 187 with an elbow 189which extends vertically downward. An elbow 190 is connected to thelower leg of elbow 189 by a short nipple, not apparent, and a pipesection 191 is connected to the elbow 190 to extend horizontally forconnection at its other end to an elbow 192. Such elbow 192 in turn isconnected to an. elbow 193 by a nipple, not apparent, and the elbow 193in turn extendshorizontally outwardly from the header 91. Thusregardless of the degree and direction of relative subsidence, theassembly of elbows, nipples, and pipe sections can pivot to allow threedimensional adjustment to thenew relative positions between filter andheader.

A plant as hereinabove described and its method of use together with themethod of using the treated water therefrom inan improved miningoperation has amounted to a revolutionary contribution to the art ofsulphur mining. Especially opportunistic is this discovery as theincreased demand for sulphur and the scarcity of new producing areasmakes it necessary to work old domes and parts of producing areas whichmay heretofore have been considered in the category of marginalproducers from an economic viewpoint.

In past years the presently nationally known-large sulphur producershave grown to their present stature due to the fact that their earliestproducing wells have been located centrally of lodes or producing areasof vast extent so that production could be continued from a well over along period as the producing area therebelow was progressivelyexploited. To this end permanent plants were installed with boilers,softeners, filters, and auxiliary equipment of large size so that thecosts of moving the plant were prohibitive.

As a comparatively large area below a well within the heavy producingcentral lode was gradually brought to marginal production, other wellswere drilled in the heavy producing zone at considerably spaceddistances from the first producing means, and spaced to fall centrallyof new zones whose peripheries were calculated to extend to theperiphery of the earlier, depleted zone.

The plant having been constructed for permanency, could not be moved,sojthe mine water linesfrom such plant were extended with attendant heatlosses due to radiation which could not be compensated for byextensively insulating the entended lines. The cost of the pipe lines.necessary to make these extensions also mounted, and when extension tothe remoter Wells was made it became necessary to install boosterstations to reheat the mine water, and such stations could amount incosts to figures comparable with the costs of initial installation. 7

By arriving ata plant which could be portable from one location toanother and which also could be constructed to counteract subsidence, aplant could be 10- 13 cated proximately on top ot a sulphur well, sothat the shortest mine water lines were required. Also, as the plantcould be moved at little expense, plans couldbe made to produce wellswhich could be located outwardly of the center of a heavy producingzone, and even on'the borders of such a zone or lode. The area ofproduction could be calculated to be of substantially lesser area thanthose formerly worked from a single bore, as the more frequent intervalsof shifting from well to; well were counter-balanced with increasedefiiciency of operation at each site and inexpensive cost of'moving theplant.

The ability to work smaller zones outwardly toward the rim of a heavyproducing area made it more effective to employ the. mud bowl method ofisolating the molten sulphur to a-srnaller area with the consequence.that less mud and fewer mud bores were required to carry out suchisolation. Following this advantage the hot mine water in the wellcould-give up a much larger'percentage of its heat content to heatingthe molten sulphur so that muchmore sulphur could be produced per gallonof mine water. the periphery of the producing area to draw off thecooling water added to theincreased efiectiveness of the hot mine-water.t t

. Additionally, .the speed of the upward fiowv of the Also, the addedsafeguard of a bleeder well at r molten sulphur in the well wasincreased by elevating ing sulphur which causes it to moverin thedirection of discharge in the manner that a-liquid in a primed pumpcontinues to flow in the direction of discharge.

To these advantages'the presentinvention adds that of increased purityof the sulphur produced through employing fully treatedwater as minewater rather than raw water through which steam produced by the plantboilerstlwas bubbled in the conventional process heretoforeconventionally employed. The increased purity of the sulphur wasobtained at an increased rate of production as by the old method ofbubblinglboiler. steam through the raw or partially treated mine water,where mine water left the boilers at a reduced velocity consequent uponthe substantial pressure drop in the steam-water contact stage. t

It has been found that gas fired heaters, when maintained under theoperating pressures obtainable by this invention, require no internaltreatment to prevent the occurrence of scale and corrosion when treatedwater is used therein, and this is an added improvement. But of fargreater importance is the saving in plant operation costs which canamount to the production of mine water on occasion, at gas consumptioncosts approximately onehalf the costs per gallon occurrent withconventional methods. Such cost reduction is obtainable due to the factthat the heat of gas consumption in the heater fire boxes is applieddirectly against the surface of the water tubes in watertube boilers,and radiated out through the fire tubes in fire tube boilers, to thetreated water therein as the products of combustion pass upwardly to thestack. Adjustment and control is obtainable between the inlet gas andthe stack damper setting so that almost complete combustion, whendesired, may take place within the heater. Such adjustment can be madeas an incident to the duties of a plant operator so that the duties offull time boiler operators are not required and thus a saving inoperating costs is also involved.

On the other hand, boilers require expensive controls and individualattention, and special pumps are required to circulate treatmentmaterials to the boiler to prevent 14 scale and pipe corrosion,- suchpumps being required in addition to boiler feed water pumps.

Specific comparison has been made between the performance of a sulphurplant operated under the-conventional methods where boilers wererequired to generate steam to heat the mine water as well as forauxiliary plant purposes and a plant operative after the disclosureherein in which treated water was heated in gas heaters for mine waterand boilerswere only employed to generate the steam to operate thesofteners and certain other items of plant equipment.

In aconventional type plant 5 boilers were employed, each of maximum1500 H. P. rating and the boilers were operated at approximately 85%capacity to produce approximately 1,000,000 gallons of heated mine waterper day. With a plant constructed after the principles of this inventionthe same approximate amount of 1,000,000 gallons of mine water wasproduced employing 3 heaters each of 250 H. P.-rating and 3 boilers eachof 500 H. P. ratingand operated at 75% capacity. Thus for a comparabledelivery in mine water gallonage this plant employed equipment operatedat total elfective H. P. of approximately 1640 as compared withapproximately 6375 total effective H. P. for the equipment of aconventional plant.

The total gas consumption of the conventional plant was approximatelyone third greater than the gas consumption of the plant of thisinvention and the amount of gas consumed in this novel type of plantwhich went directly to the production of heated mine water wasapproximately one half the amount consumed in the conventional plant toproduce approximately the same gallonage of mine water. Additionally themine water from the novel plant arrived at the mine under a greaterpressure and velocity, at higher temperature, and in a purer state thanthe water of the conventional plant, and the labor cost of the novelplant were comparably lower due to the substantially automatic operationof its heaters.

As a consequence of the characteristics, heat content, and quality ofwater delivered, combined with the consequent benefits derived from thenovel mining operation of this invention, including mud bowl and bleederwell, a substantially greater tonnage of sulphur was produced for thesame delivered gallonage of mine water, although it could be said withlogic that the conventional plant was located to operatea productionbore which should have penetrated a much richer sulphur producing lode.An estimate of sulphur produced per volume of mine water for theperformance of the novel plant and mining method indicated a ton ofexcessively pure sulphur was being produced per 1400 gallons of minewater introduced into the well.

The plant disclosed in the drawings and the methods of its usedisclosed, as well as the disclosed methods of mining the well are notto be considered as defining or circumscribing the invention, whichincludes other plant arrangements and methods of use as well as othermining methods which fall within the broad spirit of the invention andwithin the broad scope of interpretation claimed and merited fortheappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The process of inexpensively producing sulphur mine heating water ina plant adjacent a sulphur well in an area where formation subsidencemay occur, comprising the steps of providing water for use in the plantin part as boiler feed water and in majority to be heated in the plantin .a gas fired heater, using steam generated from the boiler feed Waterto operate plant equipment, heating the majority of water in the heaterfrom an entering temperature of approximately 220 Fahrenheit atapproximately 180 p. s. i. to approximately 320 to 340 Fahrenheit atapproximately p. s. i., such process including supporting plantequipment headers, including boiler and heater headers, respectively,separate from the plant equipment including separately supported unitsas boiler and heater means, and connecting the headers respectively totheplant equipment including boilerand heater means by means permittingthree dimensional adjustment for relative subsidence therebetween.

2. An inexpensive sulphur production process for employment in operatinga succession of spaced apart sulphur wells comprising the step oferecting a portable plant adjacent a productive sulphur well adjacent anarea where formation subsidence may occur, and including the additionalsteps of providing water for use in the plant in part as boiler feedwater and in majority to be heated in the plant in a gas fired heater,using steam generated from the boiler feed water to operate plantequipment, heating the majority of" water in the heater from an enteringtemperature of approximately 220 Fahrenheit at approximately 180 p. s.i. to approximately 320 to 340 Fahrenheit at approximately 160- p. s.i., employing the heated water in flowing the sulphur from the well,moving the plant adjacent a successive well to be produced, andrepeating the hereinabove described steps, at each location such processincluding supporting plant equipment headers, including separatelysupported units as boiler and heater headers, respectively, separatefrom the plant equipment including boiler and heater means, andconnecting the headers respectively to the plant equipment includingboiler and heater means .by means permitting three dimensionaladjustment for relative subsidence therebetween.

3. The process of inexpensively producing sulphur mine heating water ina plant adjacent a sulphur well in an area where formation subsidencemay occur, comprising the steps of providing water treated in the plantto be used in part as boiler feed water and in majority to be heated inthe plant in gas fired heater means under pressures substantially inexcess of 100 p. s. i. and wherein the heat of combustion is etfectivelyand in largest percentage transmitted through the medium separating thewater from the products of combustion to raise the water to temperaturesat least 100 F. above the atmospheric boiling point of Water, suchprocess including supporting plant equipment headers, including boilerand r heater headers, respectively separate from the plant equipmentincluding separately supported units as boiler and heater means, andconnecting the headers respectively to the plant equipment includingboiler and heater means by means permittingthree dimensional adjustmentfor relative subsidence therebetween.

4. A sulphur plant for producing a sulphur mine and comprising a sourceof raw water, a raw water storage means, a steam operated, raw watersoftener means, a chemical mixer means to mix in controlled quantitiessludge precipitating chemical with a small portion of the raw water,means including header means to deliver the mixture to said softenermeans, means including header means to deliver the larger portion ofsaid raw water to said softener means for sludge precipitationtherefrom, filter means .to remove particles from the softened water,means including header means to deliver the softened water to saidfilter means and to backwash said filter means into said softener means,boiler means, heater means, and an air compressor, means includingheader means to deliver a small part of the filtered water to saidboiler means for conversion into steam to operate plant equipmentincluding said delivery means, said compressor, and said softener meansand to deliver the larger part of the filtered water to said heatermeans, said heater means being adapted to heat the water therein underpressure by applying the heat of combustion directly through the meansseparating the water from the products of combustion, means to producesaid mine comprising means including header means to supply said heaterwater to said mine to melt said sulphur and to receive the moltensulphur therefrom, and also comprising means to supply compressed air tosaid mine to flow said sulphur, each header means being supportedseparately from the separately supported plant units between which itextends and being respectively connected to such units by meanspermitting three dimensional adjustment for relative subsidence betweensuch units, and between such units and said header means.

5. A method of employing a sulphur plant adapted to be rapidlytransported to produce a succession of sulphur wells comprising thesteps of providing plant equipment including individual boilers ofapproximately 500 H. P.

capacity and individual heaters of approximately 250 H. P. capacity,pumps, chemical mixer means for water treatment, air compressor means,and pluralities of water softeners and filters of sizes comparable tothe boilers and heaters, installing the individual items of plantequipment on separate foundation means closely proximate the well,providing separately supported header means extending between said unitsand connecting said headers to the units between which they extend by.means permitting three dimensional adjustment for relative subsidencebetween such units and between such units and said header means,transferring a small part of a supply of raw water to the chemical mixermeans and then to the softeners and the remainder directly to thesofteners, operating the softeners to precipitate sludge from thewater'th erein, filtering the softened water and employing the greaterpart thereof to be heated as mine water and the lesser part thereof asboiler feed water to be converted to steam to be employed in operatingplant equipment including pumps, the compressor means and thesofteners,and employing themine water from the heaters and the compressed airconjointly. to flow. the sulphur .well and with minimum heat loss due toshort mine water linestbetween heaters and the well.

.6. A method of employing a sulphur plant adapted to be rapidlytransported in operating a successionofspaced apart sulphur wellscomprising .the. steps of erecting a portable plan adjacent a productivesulphur well, .providing water for use in the plantin part as boilerfeed water and in .ma ority to be heated in the plant in gas firedheater means, providing separately supported header means extendingbetween the successively operative items of plant equipment includingthe boiler meansrand heater means, and connecting such headermeans tothe respective units between which theyextend by means permitting threedimensional adjustment for relative subsidence between such units andbetween such units .andsaid header means, the water heated in saidheaterv means being heated under pressures substantially in excess. ofp. s. i. and wherein the heat of combustion is etfectively and inlargest percentage transmitted through themedium separating the water totemperatures at least 100 F. above the atmospheric boiling point ofwater, employing the heated water in flowing the sulphur from the well,and movingthe plant adjacent a successive well to be produced, andrepeating the herein above described steps.

7. The process of economically producing heated water for sulphur minincomprising the steps of erecting a portable plant adjacent the sulphurwell including water storage, chemical mixer, water softener, filterboiler, gas fired heater, air compressor, air receiver, vat, stack, andpumps, supplying water to storage and delivering storage water in partto chemical mixer and in majority to softener, mixing lime with thewater in the mixer. and delivering it for addition to the water in thesoftener, treating the contents delivered to the softener, filtering thetreated water in the filter, employing a part of the filtered water asboiler feed water to be converted to. steam for operating the compressorandpumpswhile heating under pressure the greater part of.the filteredwaterain the heater, the water entering at approximately 220: Fahrenheitand approximately 180 p. s. i. and leaving as water at approximately 320to 340 Fahrenheit and at'approximately p. s. i., the flowprocessesthrough the successively operative separately supported itemsof plant equipment being carried by separately supported header meansextending therebetween and permitting three dimensional adjustment forrelative subsidence between such units and between such units and saidheader means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FraschOct. 20, 1891 OTHER REFERENCES Mining Engineers Handbook, Peale 3rd ed.,1944, V01. 1, 10-401 and 10-402.

1. THE PROCESS OF INEXPENSIVELY PRODUCING SULPHUR MINE HEATING WATER INA PLANT ADJACENT A SULPHUR WELL IN AN AREA WHERE FORMATION SUBSIDENCEMAY OCCUR, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF PROVIDING WATER FOR USE IN THE PLANTIN PART AS BOILER FEED WATER AND IN MAJORITY TO BE HEATED IN THE PLANTIN A GAS FIRED HEARTER, USING STEAM GENERATED FROM THE BOILER FEED WATERTO OPERATE PLANT EQUIPMENT HEATING THE MAJORITY OF WATER IN THE HEATERFROM AN ENTERING TEMPERATURE OF APPROXIMATELY 220* FAHRENHEIT ATAPPROXIMATELY 180 P. S. I. G. TO APPROXIMATELY 320 TO 340* FAHRENHEIT ATAPPROXIMATELY 160 P. S. I., SUCH PROCESS INCLUDING SUPPORTING PLANTEQUIPMENT HEADERS, INCLUDING BOILER AND HEATER HEADERS, RESPECTIVELY,SEPARATE FROM THE PLANT EQUIPMENT INCLUDING SEPARATELY SUPPORTED UNITSAS BOILER AND HEATER MEANS, AND CONNECTING THE HEADERS RESPECTIVELY TOTHE PLANT EQUIPMENT INCLUDING BOILER AND HEATER MEANS BY MEANSPERMITTING THREE DIMENSIONAL ADJUSTMENT FOR RELATIVE SUBSIDENCETHEREBETWEEN.